The McDSP Analog Processing Box (APB) combines the flexibility of software with the fidelity of premium analog processing. Each APB audio channel can be controlled by an AAX, AU, or VST3 plug-in on a wide variety of DAWs. Real analog circuits, recalled instantly with your session or a preset, and controlled with sample accurate automation. A growing collection of APB plug-ins is included with each unit, no additional purchases necessary.
Analog sound with digital workflow convenience
The McDSP APB-8 Analog Processing Box and APB plug-ins are macOS and Thunderbolt 2 and 3 compatible and require Pro Tools 12.x or later. The hardware itself is built using top-drawer analog components with multiple analog saturation circuits so that you can enhance your recording projects with genuine analog harmonic richness — as opposed to a digital facsimile thereof. The APB-8’s 32-bit DAC and ADC ensure high-quality conversion, while sample-accurate automation and full session recall and preset handling enhance and streamline your workflow. Sound quality versus workflow — you no longer have to compromise. Get warm, punchy, true analog sonics — plus the convenience of software — with the McDSP APB-8 Analog Processing Box.
The best of both worlds
The APB-8 ships with a collection of APB plug-ins to route audio to the APB hardware and control its analog circuitry. APB plug-ins operate like any other plug-ins — however, the processing is done in the analog domain. You can save your settings as presets, recall plug-ins with your sessions, and even automate parameters with sample-level accuracy. APB plug-ins give you the best of both worlds: the convenience and accuracy of a digital workflow — and authentic analog sonics. APB plug-ins include the C673-A dynamic range compressor, the El Moo tube limiter, MooTube, ChickenHead, and C-18 compressors, and the L-18 limiter
The APB plug-ins
Featuring all-analog dynamics and a custom saturation circuit, the C673-A was McDSP's initial proof-of-concept for the world's first programmable analog processor. One of two analog limiters in the APB plug-in range, the El Moo is a variable all-analog saturation stage. Featuring McDSP's flagship tube-based compression algorithm, the MooTube Compressor combines decades of modeling know-how with the world's first programmable analog processor to deliver soft-touch dynamics control to anything signal you put through it. The ChickenHead compressor leverages McDSP's most aggressive APB hardware saturation circuit to give you a compressor with attitude. The L-18 is a pristine all-analog limiter with a Color control for subtle tone-shaping options. Like the L-18 limiter, the C-18 compressor is an ultra-clean sound machine, but with level-dependent attack and release times.
How APB technology works
An APB plug-in takes the input audio signal, adds it with a control signal, and sends both to an APB hardware unit for processing via Thunderbolt. The control signal tells the analog components to execute the selected algorithm with all parameter values, and the audio signal is processed in the analog domain, converted back to digital, and appears at the ouput of the APB plug-in back inside your Pro Tools session. Under the hood, it's quite sophisticated. For you, dead simple. The McDSP APB-8 is the future of pro audio processing.
McDSP APB-8 Analog Processing Box Features:
- Programmable analog processing unit
- Premium analog components
- Multiple analog saturation circuits
- 32-bit DAC and ADC
- Thunderbolt 2 and 3 compatible
- APB-ready software plug-in bundle included
- Sample-accurate automation
- Full session recall and preset handling
- iLok required
